But the city's Planning & Zoning Board had one caveat when it approved the site plan for the new Christine E. Lynn Women's Health & Wellness Institute at 690 Meadows Road at the Jan. 9 meeting.

After discussing the issue, the board also passed a motion asking for a recommendation for shuttle service between the main campus and the Oaks Medical Plaza garage to be defined. Under the hospital's parking plan, some employee parking spaces are in the garage across the street instead of on campus.

But the hospital already has a parking plan in place, both in general and for the new center, anticipating a spring groundbreaking and one-year construction schedule, Dan Sacco, vice president for strategic affairs, said on Jan. 15. "During the construction we will implement a valet service," he said.

"We already run an on-demand and on-call golf cart shuttle to the garage for anyone who wants a ride," he said. "We've increased security in the parking garage. We've added cameras and panic buttons. The condo association on Oaks Plaza has converted to the same security firm we use and that has improved communications."

There were concerns about employees who work at night or have disabilities walking to the garage. "I feel very good about the project but feel the hospital is still kicking the can down the road when it comes to parking," P&Z chairman William Fairman said at the meeting. Member Kerry Koen agreed with him. "We need to be more proactive," he said.

An employee testified that security is still an issue.

"Their security is of upmost importance to us," Sacco said at the meeting. "We do provide and open up some of the lots for evening employees to park on campus. We have security 24/7 and we provide a shuttle for them. We try to be cognizant of any security concerns for our staff."

"We will continue to tweak how we handle parking," Sacco said later. "We're constantly looking at how the plan is working and what modifications we need to make."

The existing two-story, 26,788-square-foot women's center will be replaced with a new, two-story, 42,000-square-foot center. Two deviations from city code will allow for a 12-foot driveway and 25 off-site parking spaces at the garage. The driveway will be the sixth and northernmost on Meadows Road for access to the women's center, P&Z manager Jim Bell said in his presentation at the meeting.

The hospital won't demolish the existing center until the new one is up and running, Sacco said.

Brian Black, president of Lands End homeowners association, raised the issue of better signs directing people to the hospital campus. He has testified about this before, he told the P&Z. "We think it's great the hospital is growing and providing new services…but we see serious traffic and safety issue for those not familiar with the area who turn off of Glades Road and onto Northwest Seventh Avenue."

Some drivers even back up onto Glades when they see they made the wrong turn, he said. "Consider moving people where they want to go," he said.